Denver JETs help raise over $21,000 for Japan!

Denver JETs in Shimane-ken, Leonard Large, Kyle Opitz and Lauren Hale, along with other JETs from Shimane, Hiroshima, Tottori and local residents of Japan took part in a Charity Hike up Shimane’s Mount Sanbe to benefit the Japanese Red Cross and other charities supporting those affected by the Tohoku Disaster.

Lauren Hale, a Shimane JET from Denver said Japan has been such a great home to us all and we were so glad that we could be a part of the relief effort. We raised over twice the amount that we had originally hoped for!

On May 15th over 60 ALTs and CIRs and 50 Japanese people took part in a sponsored Charity Hike. The hike took place on Shimanes highest mountain: Mt. Sanbe in Oda City, Shimane. It was attended by people from 14 countries: America, Ireland, France, England, Jamaica, Canada, Scotland, Kenya, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In the weeks leading up the event particpants raised $21,023 USD (¥1,715,338) from local and international donations (via the internet). At the summit of Mt. Sanbe, the participants held a photo opportunity and called out a strong message of support for the people of Tohoku and Japan from the international community. Please see the photograph below. In the week after the event, the money was transferred to the Japanese Red Cross (70%) and SMILE and Dreams; Tohoku Kids Project (30%).